Can Google Home Control Fibe TV Box?

[GoogleNut]

Greetings,

From the Fibe TV box I can control my channel selection and also home devices connected to my Google account.  However, I failed to find how I could control my Fibe TV box through my "Ok Google" Home devices other than power on/off.  Has anyone figured out (for example) how to use a Google Home device (not the remote control) to instruct the Fibe TV box to switch to another channel?

Through the remote I can do all the TV interactions and everything I can do through Google Home by clicking the assistant button on the remote as I would an "Ok Google.." command on the Home / Nest units, but the other way around doesn't seem to work.  Lemme know if you've been successful.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

You cannot control your VIP7802 Fibe TV Box through your Home devices.

The devices listed below are the only ones that you can control with your Google Home devices:

• Google Nest or Home speakers and displays
• Google Wifi
• Nest Wifi
• Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) and Nest Thermostat
• Nest Temperature Sensor
• Chromecast
• Chromecast Audio
• TV that works with Google Cast
• Chromecast with Google TV
• Google Pixel Tablet

Please reference the following web links

Set up Google devices in the Google Home or Nest app - Chromecast Help

Link your TV to your Google Nest or Home speaker or display - Android - Google Nest Help

Take care.

[NewGuy]

It can be done, but not directly.

You need an intermediary device like a Logitech Harmony Hub.  You can set the Harmony to control the Fibe box, then use Google Home to tell Harmony to change the channel.

It's the setup I have and it does work.

[W3ap0nX]

That answer is absolutely incorrect, and one only needs one counter-example to prove it wrong.  Here are a few:  I'm controlling lights, ecobee thermostats, blinds, etc. via Google Home.  As @NewGuy pointed out, it can be done but it might not be as easy as one might hope.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

@W3ap0nX  Please do me a favor and re-read the original question & compare it to the answer.

 "Has anyone figured out (for example) how to use a Google Home device (not the remote control) to instruct the Fibe TV box to switch to another channel?"

My answer: You cannot control your VIP7802 Fibe TV Box through your Home devices.

I cannot speak to the solution that was offered up by @NewGuy He indicates you would need to purchase an intermediary device like a Logitech Harmony Hub. If that is the case, then this may be an indirect solution to answer the question.; a workaround.

The list I mentioned & the references I included were provided by Google & that is absolutely correct.

Take care.

[GoogleNut]

Well I sort’of disagree on the “it can’t control it” comments from the standpoint that I can already control the FibeTv box’s power on/off functions directly from Google Home or the assistant software on my phone. So Google can control it to an extent. The question is whether you can instruct it (through Google) to do more useful things like controlling the channels and such. 

I’m sure I could setup IFTTT or Harmony as a workaround, heck I could probably train my dog to go turn the tv off but that’s beside the point (and the original question) 🙂

[W3ap0nX]

If that has been your answer I probably would not have bothered replying. But claiming Google says "these are the only 10 devices you can control from Google Home" is just nonsense. Do me a favor and go read the links you provided. They do give you instructions for various Google devices, but nowhere do they say these are the only options. They just don't provide instructions for every device or there in that page. Claiming otherwise is just counterproductive.

Going back to the original question, I agree that there's no direct way to link the two (it would be nice but I'm not holding my breath). Personally I'm still interested in other "creative" da people come up with.

Cheers! 

[Retiredandbored · Accepted solution]

In my experience I have always had control over the 7802 box from Google home. 

It is added as a Chromecast supported related device, as is the Streamer and any Bell supported Chromecast, now Google TV OS TV or dongle. 

I won't say it is predictable as the Google home platform sometimes loses it's routing path to have it return another time. 

I use it for turn on TV. I named my box TV rather than Fibe TV

• Home
• settings 
• Device settings 
• About
• Box name
• Change name

I then say to my Google home mini or assistant on my phone

• Ok Google
• Pause TV
• Resume TV
• Any of the other described voice features for the voice remote. 
• Same as on streamer. https://theexpertcommunity.com/case-study/user-interface-of-a-streaming-service/
• You can control your iot devices assigned to the same home account via the TV voice remote
• Turn on kitchen light
• Set thermostat

As I mentioned it can be a bit flakey in particular on apps. Google assistant on home defaults to Spotify and you tube for AV searches, and to control Netflix I say ok Google pause Netflix on TV as Google home sets presidency to directly controlling Netflix once you identify the device. 

Play around with it. 

It works great on the streamer, but it is a pure Chromecast built in streamer. 

Note be careful with Google searches. With its AI overview it is Google centric and is now making assumptions presumptions, inferences choose the term and I am finding odd results. Use web search to skip AI or just move down and be sure to check the listed references.

I have been using Google home on the streamer since 2019 and then Epico TV android box since 2022 and then 7802 since mid 2022. 

Much more reliable on the first two. Not sure the 7802 was ever well designed or tested, as I am sure many would agree.  

Example of weird Google AI overview results. 

To connect Google Home to a Bell 7802, you'll need to ensure the Bell Streamer is connected to your Wi-Fi network and has a Google account linked to it. Then, within the Google Home app, you'll add the Bell Streamer as a device and assign it to a room

In one result it says they are the same box and another it says they are not. 

So beware of Google AI inferences on AI overviews. 

Also get to know the searches on the voice control that are Google product priority. Any video on Bell services or included apps that have video trailers or even soundtracks on YouTube or Spotify that is all you are going to get. 

Use your smart device to assist with those searches that give you Google owned app results

Bruce